Survivor of Columbine High School massacre raises money for Sandy Hook families

January 1, 2013 at 10:51 PM CST - Updated July 25 at 9:43 PM

NACOGDOCHES, TX (KTRE) - Lisa Garner was a sophomore at Columbine High School when two seniors opened fire in a mass shooting spree on April 20, 1999. At the time of the shooting, Garner's teacher locked her and her classmates inside the classroom, ultimately saving their lives.

"It was obvious at one point that they were shooting very close to us and it turns out later that they were shooting at the door and it was so loud. I mean, I remember thinking, I might not make it home today," Garner said.

Thirteen people were killed, including Garner's basketball coach.

"It was really hard at first, but he was truly a hero. I mean he saved a lot of students that day and he saved a lot of lives," Garner said.

Now at 29 years old, Garner is the owner of Texas Size Bling, a Nacogdoches boutique where her and her husband make custom T-shirts.

Garner says when she heard about the December shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, she decided to create T-shirts in honor of the 26 victims.

"I can't imagine what a seven or eight-year-old makes of that kind of situation and how their head processes that. They should never have to have that kind of fear, you know?" Garner said.

In a little less than a month, Garner has made 80 T-shirts and has raised over $1,000.

She plans on donating the proceeds to the Sandy Hook Fund.

"I know what they're going through. I know the pain that the community is feeling right now and having been there and experienced it myself I felt like I wanted to do something," Garner said.

Garner says she hopes the foundation will use her donation for ongoing counseling for survivors and families who have lost a child. She says she found solace through counseling after living through her own nightmare.